Vehicle paekino indicator



April 12, 1932. -rY H. SANDOW .1,853,580

VEHICLE PARKING INDICATOR Filed May 16, 1951 gmwntoi Ta/nas' E Jam/awPatented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATI-is rnonns H. sANDoW, orWILKESLBARRE, rmvNsYLvANIA .VEHICLE PARKING INDICATOR'A Application ledMay 16,

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for indicating thelength of time that a vehicle has been parked.

Practically all cities and municipalitiestoday have various regulationsrestricting the length lof time that vehicles such asauto'- mobiles maylbe parked on the streets. InV most cities the time for parking variesin accordance with the locality. For example, in

the down town Aor business sections -thetime allowed for parking may beone hour, and in less lcongested `sections the time may be two-hours,Whereas in the residential districts the parking time may be unlimited.yGrreat diiiiculty has been experienced in enforcing the `parkingregulations,"since many automobiles are parked within the restrictedzone beyond the time allowed by law.

In orderfto apprehend these violators-of lthe 'zcity laws, variousexpedients have been-resorted to, -the most common requiring .thel

actual presence of an oficer ofthe'law `who will time the vehicle bynoting they-time it .was first parked and if the parkingextends beyondthe allowed period. To .effectively time the parked cars in a city intheabove manner Aobviously requires the services of' a great many officers.One object ofthe :present invention therefore is to provide a parkingindicator for attachment yto automobiles or other vehicles which Willindicate at a glance the time that a -vehicle has Vbeen parked.

Another object of the present invention is to .provide a parkingindicator for attachment yto automobiles which is adapted to betheriders therein.

1931".-A serial No. 537,962".v

construction and cheap to manufacture and which maybe readily installedin an accessible position without interfering with vthe operating partsvof the vehicle nor with thevievv of In many congestedl localitiesgaragesor open lots are utilized lasparking spaces'for automobiles, theownersof the garages or lots charging the'operators ofthe automobiles inaccordance with the time thatthe Vehicles'are '65 parked. Disputesfrequently varise between theowner'sof automobilesand the operatorsofthesegarages or lots as tothe parking time. Alsotor correctly timeamultiplicity of vehicles which renter at dierent times and '65 leave atvdierent times now requires a written record for each vehicle.

A furtherobject ofthis invention therefore isthe provision' of `a systemof'timing vehicles parked Tin garages or other spaces whereicharges aremade inaccordance with the time of parking in which an indicatormay .bevset 'by each automobile owner, andwhich may beqreadily attached toeachvehiclefto clearly show the time of parking when tlie' 75ownerre-claims his automobile. l i A further `object of vthis* inventionYis the A' f provision of a system of timing and a parking indicator foruse in said system .whereby ya V manually adjustableindicator may beset.3@ l

by or in the presence of Ethe ,automobile r owner and then locked intheVclosed body of a parked Vcarlby the owner thereof'so that it ymay notrhe movedimtil the `owner opensthe car, the clasped 'time then can beeasily calculated.v

Afurther object'of this .inventionis to prof videa simple and cheapindicatorhaving a clock `face and manually .movable A.handsand includinga suction cup `to attach it to an auto- 99 mobile forzusein garagesand'parking spaces V whereby one. indicator may be `manually set g andattachedto'each car as .it is parked, *andV the parking. timeV maybereadily computed-V when the' car owner re-claims vhiscar.` V95 .1Afurther objectof this linvention is the provision of a vsystem of.timing parked vef hicles whereby anaccurateandreadily available timing`record is f easily keptfor eachy vehiclewithout -requiring=writtenvrecords {o ffffltwA the time of entering and leaving the parking s ace.

pThese and other objects' of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the appended claims when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein Y Figure lis a view of oneembodiment of this invention attached to an enclosed automobile andviewed from the interior thereof. Figure 2 is an elevation ofthe'opposite face of the indicator shown in Figure 1 on a slightlylarger scale. f

Figure 3 is a vertical section onan enlarged scale taken through theindicatorot Figures" 1 and 2.- v Y Y Figure 4-is a view of one of theindicator hands. Y v V Figure 5 is a sectional view of-anotherembodiment of the invention embodying a suction cup for attaching to avehicle. Y f

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a single dial indicator embodying asuction cup.

Referring to t-lie drawings wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts, one embodiment of my novel indicator is shownY in Figure 1as attached lto the instrument panel of'an auto-mobile havingy anenclosed body. The instrument panel 1 is provided with the .usualinstruments 2, and the corner brackets 3 for supporting the Windshield 4and the top in the usual manner.V The novel parking indicator 5constituting the present embodiment is mounted on the instrument panelkadj acent `one end thereof and projects upwardly whereby the tace ofthe same may be clearly viewed through the windshield 4.

vAls indicated more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, my novel indicatorembodies a supporting bracket 6 including a bottom strap having openings7 therein forsecuring bolts, and having upwardly extending'divergentarms 8 to which are secured the indicating mechanism. The upper ends ofarms 8 carry supporting .head 9 having a rectangular or circ-ularopening for providing a rigidy framework to which the indicatingmechanism may be secured.`

Secured to the frame9 are the front andV back members 12 and 13 havingsuitable holes therein for Aalignment with corresponding holes inthehead 9 for the reception of locking vbolts 14. The two members 12 and13.

have the bolt holes enlarged at opposite ends whereby the heads of theybolts and the nuts are positioned below the surface of members 12 and13. Each 'of 'themembers 12 and'13 is provided witha circular recess 15.TheH dial and hand'fsupportingbase 16 is secured against the faceofsupport 9 by member 13, the base 16 being apertured-for the recept-ionof bolts 14. -Member 16 has va central opening in Vwhich is positionedthev supporting members for the indicating hands of the parking device.A sleeve 17 has an external di- .aineterto have a'workingiit with theopening,

'in the supporting member 16 and is provided with a flange 18 adjacentone end thereot.

Each end of the sleeve 17 has a boss 19 provided with a flat portionadapted for the reception of an indicating hand. The indicating handsare similar in construction, one hand being shown in Figure 4. Asillustrated, the hand 32 has an opening23 in the hub 24 thereof, opening23 being substantially circular with two straight sides for engagementwith the flat portions of the bosses 19. Sleeve 17 has a plainunthreaded opening throughout its length.

Tithin sleeve 17 is a second sleeve or bearing post 25. The two sleevesmay be rotated with respect to one another. Sleeve 25 has flange 26adjacent one end and is also provided with projecting bosses 27 havingflattened portions thereon similar to bosses 19 of the-sleeve 17. lEachend of the sleeve 25 is threaded for the reception of screws 28.

vThe sleeves 17 and 25 are assembled as shown in Figure 3. The sleeve 17is rst positioned through the opening insupporting member 16 and thenthe two minute hands 32 and 33 are forced over the bosses 19. The

flattened surfaces of the bosses 19 andl the' parallel edges of theopenings 23 in the hands cooperate to prevent slipping of the hands andfrictional engagement of the parts is sucient to retain the hands inposition. VThenV the inner sleeve 25 is slippedinto the sleeve 17 andthe twohour hands 34 and 35 are cating dialsV 36 and 37 having numeralsar-y e. ranged thereon similar to the face lof a clock.

However it will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that the dials arearranged with their iigures progressively increasing in oppositedirections.

.As indicated in Figure 1, the parking indicator is preferably locatedin a portion of. the automobile wherein one of the dials with itscooperating hands maybe clearly viewed from the exterior of the vehicle,and the otherV may be viewed from the interior'tliereof. One convenientand preferred location of the indicator is shown in Figure 1, whereinthel For example if the vehicle is parked at three oclock the hour handis turned by handto the numeral 3, and theminutehand is turned to the ynumeral 12asV shown on 1the drawings. Ro-

iig

tation of the'liour hand 34 causes simultaneous f rotation of the innersleeve 25 carrying with 2^ .it the opposite hour handV 35. Similarlyrotation of the minute hand 32 causes rotation i kof the outer sleeve 17thus rotating` the opposite minute hand 33. The hands are thussimultaneously set on both dials 36 and 37 to clearly indicate topersons within and outside the automobile the-time at which it wasparked.

Each operator of a vehicle may be required by municipal or cityordinances to indicate the exact time at which a vehicle is parked.Furthermore such ordinances may make it unlawful to set the indicator atany other than the actual time at which the vehicle was parked. VVitheach vehicle equipped with these indicators and each indicator clearlyshowing the time that the vhicle was parked, obviously an officer couldtell at a glance n whether the vehicle had been parked longer thanallowed by law in the particular Zone. Thus one officer could cover muchmore territory than under the present system.

It will be obvious that the novel parking indicator may be mounted invarious other positions in the vehicle, the principle requireinent beingthat the hands are readily accessible for positioning by the operator ofthe vehicle and that the dials and hands are visible from the exteriorthereof.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, a readily detachablemountingis shown, wherein the indicator is provided on one face with aiiexible rubber suction cup 38 whereby it may be readily attached to theglass of the windshield of anautomobile or to a window thereof, eitheron the interior of the closed body or exterior of the body. In

either mounting the dial and hands within the suction cup are clearlyvisible through the cup and the glass.

The form of invention shown in Figure 5` wherein the parking indicatormay be readily attached to an automobile is also useful where someoneother than the operator of the vehicle attaches the parking device tothe vehicle. For example in various congested localities such as thebusiness sections i,of the'city, various garages and open air parkingplaces are provided in which vehicles may be park-ed. The charges forparking in these garages or parking spaces usually depends upon thelength of time that the vehicle remains parked. With the form'ofinvention shown in Figure 5 therefore'when a machine is driven into aprivately owned parkingrspace, the attendant or the vehicle operator maymanually attach by the suction cup 38 a parking indicator to thevehicle. He will then set the hands to indicate the actual time ofparking, and when the operator returns the elapsed time .during whichthe vehicle has been parked will be readily ascertained from the setparking indicator hand and the time. Thus the correct charges for theparking of the vehicle may be simply computed. In the case of closedautomobiles, the indicator may be mounted within the car and setcorrectly, and the automobile owner may then lockf the rdoors-of; the:cari whereby` the'indicatorE may not bere-set; Thus when'. the owner.returns therecan' fbe yno :dispute as.` to the time ofparkingfsince'the-indicator could: not have-been tampered with.,

In .the form* of'. invention shown in Figure 6 the indicatorfhasbeenshownt ina simplified form. whereinfthe rubber suction cup38ismounted on the rear facelof aablock;,39 lembodying; only onefdial 42.,supporting two hands on the adj acentxface thereof. The two' indicatinghands 43,:and mayl be: friction; f ally vmounted on a; center; post formanual; independent adjustment; This formo-f ther inventionisparticularly useful in parking spaces and garages or any iother use:wherein the necessity of viewing; the indicator from two directionsisavoided'. yThe formg-ofim Y vention shown finFigure maybe veryxcheapvly manufactured and sold toy the opere ators of garagesforparkingspaces,for ready attachmentto a vehicleas it ispa'rked. Whenthe owner. reclaims. hisinachinel the` actualvv timeof parking is.easily'computed foreachv ear without the necessity 'off keepingy booksor records. It willbe understood that the em#4 bodiment. shown in Figureyzcan also ybeset and then locked ,within an= automobile, ythusavoiding: all tpossible disputes'.4 asv tothe indicator having beenmovedduring the absencel ofthe operatorof the automobile, as describedin connection withFigure 5.A l

It will be understood that mynovel systemf ofr timing the parking; of,vehicles is not limited to the speciic..` embodimentsv shown:Othermodes of attaching the indicators to .ve-y hicles maybe usedand'fa-ll within the purview of the invention.-` l i The invention;mayrbe embodied :in other' specific forms without. departing froml the'Aspirit or.4 essential characteristics thereof. The present* embodimentyis therefore to 2 be considered in allf respects as lillustrative and rnotfrestrictive, the scope of the'finvention beingv indicatedfbytheappended claimsrather than Y lofi which come within themeaningfandrangeof'., equivalency of thefclaimsare therefore intended tobe embraced'thereiin WhatvI claim and desire to secure by U. S; LettersPatent is i j 1. 'A parking indicator comprising a sup porting member,two indicating dials thereon and facing in opposite directions, indiciaon said dials representing hours Vand minutes, said supporting memberhaving an opening therethrough Vconcentric with said dials, a bearingpost passing through said` opening and having its ends projecting beyondthe two dials, an indicating hand secured to each projecting end of saidbearing post forsimultaneous rotation adjacent the two dials, a sleevesurrounding said'bearing post and having its ends projecting beyond thetwo dials',

'an indicating hand secured to each projectingv endl of f said :sleevefor simultaneous rotation adjacent the two dials, and means forysecuring said Vindicator to anl automobile with one dial visible from adistance.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the projecting'ends ofsaid bearing post and sleeve have flat surfaces thereon, and said handshave similar shaped openings engageable'over said ends.

3. The 'invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for securingthe indicator to an automobile comprises a depending bracket, and meansfor securing said bracket to the instrument panel of the automobile:with one dial of said indicator visible through the windshield thereof.Y

zoV

V4. A. parking indicator'- for automobiles comprising a supportingmember, twooppositely facing dials thereon having indicia representingtime intervals, and indicating hands cooperating with each dial, saidhands being. connected for simultaneous manual adjustment, andV a hollowvsuction cup on said supporting Vmember surrounding one dial and spacedbeyond the dial whereby said indicatorlmay be readily attached to aglass panel of an automobile with one dial visible through the glass andthe hollow suction cup.

`45. f A12 .parking indicator for automobiles comprising a supportingmember, two dials on opposite faces thereof having indicia representinghours and minutes, two hourvhands one cooperating with each` dial, twominute hands one cooperating witheach dial, a bear- -ing post projectingthrough said supporting member and having both hour hands securedtheretofa sleeve surrounding said post and projecting through saidmember and having both minute hands secured thereto, and a hollowsuction `cup secured to said supporting member and surrounding one dialwhereby one set of hands maybe vmanually positioned to indicate the timea vehicle is parked and the suction cup'then securedto the inner sur- Y.'face of the -windshield'of the automobile, one

dial and hands being visible through the glass and the .hollowr cup. p.Y n In testimony whereof I'aihx my signature.

TrioMA'sH. sANDow. .j Y

